Venezuela crisis: Police fire teargas as protests enter second day

A demonstrator throws a molotov cocktail during clashes with riot police while rallying against Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, April 20, 2017. — Reuters photo

Police in Venezuela have fired teargas during the second day of violent protests in the capital, Caracas.

Three people were killed on Wednesday when opponents of president Nicolas Maduro took to the streets to march.

The huge protests in Caracas and western Venezuela come amid a serious economic crisis in the country.

Opposition leaders have accused Maduro of ruling the country like a dictator; the president says opponents are trying to topple him by force.

Venezuela's opposition leader, Henrique Capriles, earlier this week called on the public to take part in anti-government protests across the country to press their demands for early presidential elections and the release of jailed politicians.